Food stamps now help feed one in eight Americans and one in four children and average around $130 a month for each person in household. Path was cleared in better times when Bush administration led campaign to erase program's stigma, made it easier to apply (click 'See also' for information). Program now expanding at about 20,000 people a day. Food stamps reach about two-thirds of those eligible; benefits brought Ohio about $2.2 billion last year. It feeds half the people in stretches of white Appalachia, in Yupik-speaking region of Alaska and on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Across 10 core counties of Mississippi Delta, 45 percent of black residents receive aid.

Feds, in examination of non-agricultural factors that hinder successful production and sale of food in poor countries, learn that supply of inputs often is monopolized, and that lack of commercial law inhibits loan-making and contracts, so funds flow into government bonds rather than farming. Report on Senegal says that farmers, food traders face 'undue police interference and on-the-road shakedowns' that deter internal transport of food. Such curable woes help explain why a country where 75 percent of people work in the food business must import 70 percent of its food.

In 2008, nearly 17 million children - more than one in five - were living in U.S. households in which food at times ran short, report shows. Number of children who sometimes were outright hungry rose from nearly 700,000 to almost 1.1 million. Among people of of all ages, nearly 15 percent last year did not consistently have adequate food; shortages worst among single mothers raising children alone. Feds' anti-hunger efforts include using $85 million to experiment with ways to get food to more children in summers, and next push is renewal of main law covering food, nutrition for children (click 'See also' to see Food Research and Action Center list of child nutrition bills).

Nearly half - 49.2 percent - of all American children get food stamps at some point; in African-American families, number is a stunning 90 percent. 'Safety net' that should have been ready to catch hungry children is weak, under stress from decades of cuts. In recession, some Americans who complained about paying taxes to help poor will find themselves needing food stamps. What will convince us to rebuild safety net? When ideologues tag as 'fiscal child abuse' the stimulus package or health-care reform, we have to ask: What do you call the fact that kids are going hungry today?

Nation's jobless rate rises to 10.2 percent in October, highest since April 1983. Feds' broader measure of unemployment rose to 17.5 percent. That gauge of labor under-use, known as 'U-6' for its Labor Department classification, accounts for people who have stopped looking for work or who can't find full-time jobs. And: To be eligible for food stamps, household income must be below 130 percent of official poverty line - annual take-home pay of $22,000 for a family of four - with assets under $2,000 (click 'See also').

Despite Norman Borlaug's accomplishments in plant breeding that created bumper crops in once poor countries, hunger prevails because of American farm politics, African corruption, war, poverty, climate change, drought. Years of grain surpluses fostered complacency. Farm programs, subsidies in U.S., plus nation's habit of shipping grain to poor undermines markets elsewhere. 'World peace will not be built on empty stomachs or human misery,' said Borlaug, Nobel winner. 'It is within America's technical and financial power to help end this human tragedy and injustice, if we set our hearts and minds to the task.'

If H1N1/swine flu closes North Carolina city school system, workers will deliver lunches and snacks to children eligible for free and reduced-price lunches - nearly half of Asheville students. Child nutrition director hopes that planning for flu crisis will smooth way to summer meal delivery. And: Nationally, at least 18.5 million low-income students expected for school lunches, 8.5 million-plus expected for breakfast (click 'See also').

More than 35 million Americans received food stamps in June, up 22 percent from June 2008. Food stamp program, with average benefit of $133.12 per person, aids one in nine Americans and has grown with nation's unemployment rate. And: Labor Department says unemployment reached 9.7 percent in August, but other indicators show 16.8 percent (click 'See also').

Food packages for WIC (Women, Infants and Children), revised for first time since early '90s, now aligned with 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (click 'See also'). New packages will contain checks for fruits, vegetables; participants will be encouraged to use whole grains, brown rice. Allotments will provide less saturated fat and cholesterol, more fiber.

Speed at which humans have improved technology has obscured our hard-wired abilities to make natural connections - that plants clean the air and water, that termites initiated mounds in which palm trees now grow in Botswana, to sense meanings in the sand, breeze and thickness of air. To solve array of integrated problems - climate change, energy, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, poverty reduction, feeding a hungry, growing population - we must deal with them in integrated way, the way they occur on the ground, says Glenn Prickett, conservation expert.

At least 18.5 million low-income students expected for school lunches and 8.5 million-plus expected for breakfast. If rising family homelessness, steady growth in food stamp program are indications, however, enrollment in school meals could swell well beyond expectations. And: New York senator proposes expansion of free school meals to all children living under 185 percent of federal poverty line in certain high-cost areas, or $40,792 for a family of four (click 'See also').

Huge woks full of vitamin-fortified spicy eggplant, ground pork and vegetables pay off at Beijing school for children of migrant workers. Children show longer attention spans, higher marks on standardized test, helping transform what once was nutritional experiment into part of school's mission to educate previously ignored population. And: Analysis had shown that the middle-schoolers in Daxing were deficient in vitamins A and B, and also had iron-deficiency anemia (click 'See also').

Friends, family form safety net for growing number of newly poor - until poverty depletes entire social networks. One couple moved in with the wife's mother while awaiting Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (still called welfare) and after their 7-year-old's response of school assignment - what she would wish of genie - was deemed too disturbing to be displayed: Her wish was for her mother to find a job because there was nothing to eat in the house.

Increase in food stamp benefits ($80 a month for family of four) creates chain reaction. For every $5 of food-stamp spending, there is $9.20 of total economic activity, as grocers and farmers pay employees and suppliers, who in turn shop and pay their bills. With food-stamp boost, economic stimulus is almost immediate, with 80 percent of the benefits being redeemed within two weeks of receipt and 97 percent within a month, the USDA says. Nationwide, enrollment in program is up more than five million from March 2008.

Number of Americans considered obese jumps 1.7 percent - almost 5.5 million people - in last year. Between 2003 and 2006, CDC measured no real growth in American obesity levels. The obese were less likely to have access to food, shelter and health care. Researchers speculate that increased stress of recession, combined with cost of healthy fresh foods (as compared to processed food), to blame.

One in six - or one-sixth of the global population, now suffer from hunger and do not have access to enough food; 1 billion undernourished around the world, UN head says. Number has jumped by more than 100 million in last year. He calls for new world food order, urges more spending on agriculture.

In stations between poverty, destitution, rural poor turn increasingly to 'food auctions,' which offer items that may be past sell-by dates. Others supplement diet with urban hunting, shooting squirrels and rabbits and eating them stewed, baked and grilled; in Detroit, retired truck driver has brisk business in raccoon carcasses, which he recommends marinating with vinegar and spices.

One in nine Americans using food stamps, USDA says. In 20 states, rate rises to one in eight; average monthly benefit: $113.87 per person. Congress allocated $54 billion for food stamps this fiscal year, up from $39 billion last year. In new fiscal year beginning October 1, costs are estimated at $60 billion. And: Unemployment reaches 9.4 percent, highest level in 26 years (click 'See also').

Instead of shutting down Philadelphia's Universal Feeding program for impoverished schools, Pennsylvania senator urges Obama to extend it to all cities, also vows to include the application-free lunch program in child-nutrition bill reauthorization. If that doesn't work, veteran lawmaker vows to use his power on senate agriculture panel to expand program.

Tony Geraci served 82,000 local peaches to Baltimore students on the first day of school last fall; for some children, it was their first taste of a fresh peach.

Tony Geraci runs Baltimore schools food service and campaigns for it, renovating old farm as incubator for gardens he wants at each of 200-plus schools, planning for student-run cafes with goal of involving students in food at every step. Students deserve to eat delicious, healthful meals; those meals help students learn, says chef and former chicken nuggets broker turned radical. About 74 percent of 83,000 students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. And: 'We've lost an entire generation of children to obesity and poor nutrition, and we're about to lose another one if we don't reach our hands into the fire and pull them back out and start doing the right thing,' he says (click 'See also').

It's not enough for Michelle Obama to laud the fresh vegetable, and plant a backyard garden. She must use her considerable influence to help bring fresh food to poor, urban neighborhoods, those "food deserts" where there's nary an unfried potato to be found. And: Cities take on their own grocery gaps (click 'See also').

Seeking solution to problems of climate change, fossil fuels depletion, food safety lapses, economic crisis, health and national security, writers issue call to arms in 'A Nation of Farmers: Defeating the Food Crisis on American Soil.' In their vision (click 'See also'), grassroots-led agricultural revolution would result in produce 100 million people becoming farmers and millions more becoming home cooks.

Jews farm because Judaism is an agrarian religion, but thousands of years have taught Jewish farmers that solution to hard times was passport. World climate, energy crisis can't be escaped by moving, and one in nine people in U.S. need food stamps. Best way to reduce hunger is more farmers, victory gardens everywhere, heightened awareness of importance of food. And: Farming, cooking aren't such radical ideas, says columnist (click 'See also').

Era of cheap and easy access to water is ending, and shortage will be more dire than oil, because it's essential to human survival, investors told. Dwindling water supplies threaten agriculture, electricity suppliers, silicon chip makers. Also at risk are makers of beverages, clothing, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, forest products, and metals and mining. Businesses urged to integrate water into strategic planning. And: Tracking water use (click 'See also').

Obama proposes $1 billion a year increase for child nutrition programs including school lunches. Plan includes better program access, better nutritional quality of school meals, expanding nutrition research, better oversight. About 32 million children eat lunch daily through National School Lunch Program; 8 million eat school breakfast. And: Nutrition bill up for renewal (click 'See also').

Public health advocates, pointing to diet-related disease epidemic and record levels of food stamp use, look to skirt paternalism but to link food assistance, school meals to good nutrition. Program that doubles value of food stamps and fruit and vegetable vouchers of low-income mothers, seniors at farmers' markets in San Diego is instant hit - sales soared by more than 200 percent.

Barack Obama has opportunity to reposition global food crisis as critical foreign policy, and he should, since hunger is directly tied to civil unrest. Surely a world that found $1 trillion to rescue financial institutions can find $30 billion for short-term hunger needs and improvements to increase food production.

With price of bread linked to that of petroleum, metal and other goods, and a billion people in extreme poverty, we must refine farming. Much of the world's best farmland in Russia, Ukraine, Africa produces nothing; poor infrastructure dooms 40 percent of world's food to rot. We need to invest in farming, make it globally desirable, productive, with tangible benefits.

For sake of economy, national security and moral authority, U.S. must stay committed to international aid, President George Bush says. Rising food prices have added 75 million people worldwide to rolls of chronic hunger for total of 925 million, UN says. In July, Senate panel voted to scale back funding request of Bush program that rewards countries for meeting strict policy, governance criteria; group has disbursed less than 10 percent of its $6.3 billion.

To progress on health care crisis, energy independence and climate change, new president must wean food system from fossil fuel and return it to diet of sunshine. Next, new policy must strive for healthful diet for all; improve reliance, safety and security of food supply; promote regional food economies; and reframe agriculture as part of solution to environmental problems.

Listless babies, wizened one-year-olds, two-year-olds with no food for two weeks are among the millions dying from hunger in Somalia in 'forgotten crisis.' Recently, thousands of desperately hungry besieged 35-truck UN convoy in Mogadishu, taking two million pounds of food. Unending war, drought, global food supply squeeze, unemployment, inflation all to blame.

If Congress can conjure up vast sums for Wall Street bailout, why, when we speak urgently of a fraying social net, of charities reeling and empty food pantries, of tens of millions of Americans (the types who clean the likes of AIG and Freddie Mac at night) without food and shelter, is there not a penny available? Our nation's priorities are in the wrong place.

New program will use $76 million in foundation money to develop better ways for local farmers to supply UN's World Food Program with their products. Lack of agricultural infrastructure - irrigation, mechanization, roads, quality control - could hamper goals. American food-aid policy supplies only American-grown food. UN says hungry total nearly 1 billion.

It's time to apply lessons from energy sector to food policies and create an OPEC-like group for grain. As biofuels cropland demand increases and climate change alters global harvests, Organization of Grain Exporting Countries could regulate grain stocks - and institutionalize food as a human right. And: Russia plans to form state grain trading company (click 'See also').

Congress must write stimulus plan with more spending for food stamps and more direct aid to states and local governments. Food aid helps most vulnerable Americans; food stamps are spent quickly and in full. Direct aid to states and localities reaches Medicaid recipients and others, and extra money is passed on.

From our efficient, automated food stamp program, we have learned that current benefits run out the third week of every month. Price tag of hunger to American society is about $90 billion a year; ending hunger in U.S. would cost $10-12 billion a year. What added moral hazard could a full month of eating create?

In fighting hunger, basic crop research pays. The U.S. needs a substantial, renewed commitment to CGIAR, the consortium of internationally funded and staffed crop-research centers around the world. And: America must rebuild, not destroy collaborative research, says father of first 'Green Revolution' (click 'See also').

In challenge to genetic engineering and old customs, Cornell scientist doubles rice harvests by planting early, giving seedlings more room to grow and calling halt to flooding fields. Critics complain that method increases drudgery of farming and yields are exaggerated, yet agree to field trials for determination.

Barack Obama, in Father's Day address, builds on message of responsibility for education and nutrition of children, particularly for low-income African American families. Earlier in year, he lectured parents about feeding their children "cold Popeyes" for breakfast, allowing children eight sodas a day, or sending only a bag of potato chips for lunch.

Feeding the hungry with subsidized American corn shipped in American ships may not be best answer. Despite woes, world has never come close to outpacing its ability to produce food. But success depends on portion control, since most grain grown is eaten by livestock, which in turn is eaten by the affluent and also is craved by growing middle class in China and India.

In world of growing hunger, with its links to alienation and terrorism, there's no justification for fat subsidies that nations provide their farmers no matter how high prices go. Subsidies have depressed food prices for years and discouraged investment in agriculture across much of the developing world.

Food crisis summit declaration seeks 'urgent and coordinated action' but sidesteps U.S.-promoted biofuels and biotechnology. Argentina, Cuba and other Latin American countries wanted document to contain criticism of wealthy nations for farm subsidies and biofuels. Some delegates were skeptical that three days of news conferences and nearly nonstop speeches could lead to true change.

Food crisis summit delegates pledge $1 billion-plus in emergency funds. They also will help small farmers with purchase of fertilizers, seeds, and farm equipment to meet goal of increasing worldwide food production by 50 percent by 2030. Left hanging: impact of biofuels on food prices, lifting trade barriers, farm subsidies.

As hunger breeds political turmoil, UN food crisis panel urges elimination of trade barriers, expansion of biotechnology research and $20 billion to $30 billion yearly investment in food production. Distractions at Rome meeting include Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, who blamed Britain for his country's woes, as well as discord over biofuels policy of U.S. and E.U.

Every second, a child dies of hunger, Nigerian minister of agriculture says, pleading at UN food crisis summit for help in revolutionizing farming in Africa and developing world. Petition signed by more than 300,000 delivered to UN head says: 'We commit to eliminating hunger and to securing food for all.' Former UN leader leads new drive to create 'green revolution' in Africa. And: Norman Borlaug led first 'green revolution' (click 'See also').

As food crisis deepens and climate change threatens, top scientists in U.S. decry diminished role of science, shortage of federal funding for research and influence of politics on subject. One scientist at recent science summit says that 'persistent misperceptions' about genetically modified foods have led to their underuse or prohibition in needy countries.

As world grows hungrier, the Conservation Reserve Program, the ethanol mandate and the ban on drilling in the Arctic Natural Wildlife Refuge increasingly are out of step. Arable land is an economic and humanitarian resource. President Bush should tell USDA to set aside the "set asides" and let America's farmers make hay while the sun is shining.

Poorest farmers, families in Myanmar/Burma's Irrawaddy Delta abandon ruined rented rice fields to line roads in hopes of aid. At another site, village was given only four tents that house 20 people each with rice going to tent residents, causing strife between those in tents, and those out. Donors promise more than $150 million in aid.

When hunger drives people into conflict, mere food aid tends to fuel fighting, as combatants seek to harness it for goals of war. Immediate challenge is for international community to swiftly respond to widespread outbreaks of violence. Peacemakers must incorporate remedies to socioeconomic roots of conflict.

Food price crisis joins drought, high fuel and fertilizer costs, dying livestock, civil war, displacement and imperiled aid operations to kill hundreds from hunger and thirst and to tip Somalia toward famine. Complicating matters are U.S. airstrikes against suspected terrorists in drought zone. In Ogaden, government uses food as weapon in attempt to starve out rebels. For information on how to help, click '(entry)' below.

As famine looms in North Korea, U.S. agrees to resume food aid shipments. Americans gave food aid to North Korea from 1995 to 2005, but stopped after UN's World Food Program representatives were expelled. Ten years ago, about one million North Koreans died of starvation. White House says aid isn't related to nuclear disarmament negotiations.

Citing U.S. response to global food crisis as 'belated and disjointed,' lawmakers show dismay, frustration and confusion as they consider integrating their thinking on food policy, agriculture, foreign aid, trade and energy into their approach to global hunger and alleviation of poverty.

Getting food, water, shelter to victims in Myanmar/Burma is race against time, and there are dozens of other impoverished nations affected by global food crisis, foreign aid official tells Senate panel. Critics call Bush administration's $350 million proposed response inadequate, and compare it to higher cost of Iraq war.

Discouraging grain exports shrinks supplies and raises prices. US should encourage other countries blocking aid shipments to follow India's laudable example, which allows UN to buy and ship rice as a humanitarian exception to that country's ban. India is also considering easing its policy more generally.

America can better help its farmers and citizens plus needy overseas if it stops treating food aid as farmer welfare and seeks framework that addresses: laws that forbid U.S. food-aid purchases overseas; promoting sale of surplus crops, rather than their storage as emergency stocks; and the effect of corn-ethanol subsidies on food scarcity.

It's time to end subsidies for transforming corn into ethanol, and it's time to untangle international food aid from domestic farm supports. President Bush is right to bolster food assistance and to insist on local purchase of emergency food. We must provide help in developing agricultural markets and in boosting yields with new technologies and seeds.

Citing role of ethanol in rising food prices, candidate John McCain joins 23 Republicans in asking to waive high production mandate. 'We need to put an end to flawed government policies that distort the markets, raise food prices artificially, and pit producers against consumers,' says candidate. Contender Barack Obama of Illinois has defended ethanol.

U.S. must invest appropriately in farmers at home and in agricultural development in the developing world, and open world markets to more liberalized food trade to create stable and affordable food supply and stable income for farmers around the world. Congress must replenish wheat stocks, OK crisis food aid and 'buy local' pilot plan, and strive for greener biofuels.

President Bush wants to tack $770 million in new global food and development aid onto Iraq war funding bill. Funds would include $150 million for agricultural development plus direct food assistance. Administration also wants $350 million in additional food aid for current year and released $200 million of emergency wheat reserves last month.

As relief groups call for $755 million in fresh emergency food assistance, dire hunger shows failure of globalization without free trade. In Muritania, country produces only 30 percent of what its people eat; abandoned fields grow weeds. Thirty percent of budget comes from selling factory fishing licenses, mostly to Europeans, and fish from rich waters goes to high-bidding exporters.'They leave us with sardines as they eat juicy fish,' says resident. 'We stand no chance against the hunger of richer countries.'

As food prices rise, wheat rust spores blow in the wind and threaten a crop that provides 20 percent of the food calories for the world's people. We all lose if U.S. ends support for international agricultural research centers that study this and other problems. It is tantamount to the United States abandoning its pledge to help halve world hunger by 2015.

Britain pledges $900 million to UN World Food Program, vows to seek changes in European Union biofuels targets if food prices-fuel crops link is shown. Hunger threatens more than 100 million people on every continent, UN says. Echoing statements from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank urges countries to help poor buy food instead of resorting to export curbs, which is hoarding on a national scale.

United States must help World Food Program fill a $500 million gap in its budget; Congress should OK local purchase of emergency aid; U.S., multilateral institutions must support farming in the developing world to lessen their dependence on imports. This will be simpler if U.S., Europe dismantle market-distorting crop subsidies and trade barriers.

Anger over children's empty bellies gathers, putting pressures on fragile governments. In Haiti, there's a brisk business in patties made of mud, oil and sugar; a mom of five offers any of her children to a stranger, just asking that they be fed. 'People are going to do no matter what to survive,' said UN expert. 'And if you're hungry you get angry quicker.' For other famine-fighting techniques of poor, click 'See also.'

We worry that too few thoughtful people are steering the food-ethanol debate, especially on the misguided farm/food bill. Corn-powered ethanol puts your gas tank in competition with your kids' bellies. The more U.S. acreage pushed into producing corn for ethanol, the higher prices go, because that land isn't available for other crops. Neither is the water - corn is thirsty and sucks down the Panhandle's aquifer.

President Bush orders $200 million drawn from food reserve for Africa and elsewhere and looks to other nations to help meet the $500 million shortfall at UN World Food Program. In U.S., poor families are feeling the pinch; candidates beginning to cite cost of food in speeches.

President Bush is concerned about food prices, shortages and believes developed nations have a responsibility to help, aides say. One proposal: increasing the nation's 'buy local' program, for international food aid. Haiti ousts its prime minister after food-related rioting kills five people. Food protests also occurred in Cameroon, Niger and Burkina Faso in Africa, and in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Ever-rising prices for corn-based livestock feed erode power of food stamps and cash; number seeking food at pantries and kitchens shot up an average of 20 percent in 2007. Food pantries are facing the same inflation, as well as declining donations. Food prices are forecast to rise 7.5 percent annually in each of next five years, says food bank oversight group.

Food, energy prices affecting our most vulnerable children; increase seen in anemic and underweight babies in cities, indicating later limits on their educational achievement and impaired ability to work. Food stamps won't pay for a healthy diet. Policies that help low-income children succeed belong on all candidates' agendas.

Feeding the hungry is priority in food crisis, but cheap food may be gone. Problem was caused by long-term trends, bad luck and bad policy. Iraq war has reduced oil supplies. China is hungry for meat, which requires more grain. Australian drought is likely linked to climate change inaction. Biofuels craze is speeding deforestation and taking food acreage.

Food riots and protests pressure governments to bring food prices down, but starving the neighbors by restricting food exports isn't the best solution. Restrictions demotivate farmers, pushing them into growing the wrong crops and jeopardizing future access to markets. And restrictions on supply encourage hoarding, which pushes prices up even more.

Iraq war has diminished support for feeding chronically hungry schoolchildren, just as food prices have shot up, says George McGovern, former senator and co-sponsor of the McGovern-Dole program (click 'See also'). The program, which sends U.S. crops to poor schoolchildren overseas, claims success in increasing school enrollment and attendance in countries from Afghanistan to Laos.

Skyrocketing food and fuel prices leave $650 million gap for feeding world's poorest people; World Food Program, after warning of shortage since February, urgently appeals for money from donor nations. The WFP feeds at least 73 million people in nearly 80 nations with an annual operating budget of $2.9 billion; it initiated a successful 'buy local' program to cut costs.

In Zimbabwe, once 'breadbasket of Africa,' half its residents are malnourished and the price of a loaf of bread costs what a house did just a few years ago; policies of President Robert Mugabe are to blame. Party infighting and upcoming elections could bring change, but fair elections would be required. South Africa and neighbors should pressure him for a fair contest.

U.S. policy must adjust for higher food prices. Congress must dramatically improve efficiency of emergency food aid programs. First step: Approve president's proposal to permit government to buy locally - say, South African or Ethiopian wheat for the hungry elsewhere in Africa. European Union and Canada have recently approved similar purchases.

As food shortages stunt growth of North Korean children, country's struggle with hunger still sharpened by reaction to nuclear device detonation in 2006. Donations under a World Food Program project declined by more than 80 percent between 2005 and 2007, and U.S. donations fell to zero. South Korea wants to know donations would go to poor people, not military.

Donated food aid rots in Haitian port after government cracks down on corruption that allowed Colombian cocaine a clear path to U.S. Haiti imports about 75 percent of its food; in 2002, UN found almost half the population was undernourished. Hand-written customs system is overwhelmed, bribes continue, 200 shipping containers await inspection and Miami shipping companies lay off stevedores.

As elections approach, conservatives in Spain use skyrocketing food prices as wedge against economic record of Zapatero government. Administration estimates 24 percent rise in milk prices and 16 percent hike in prices for chicken, with inflation at 4.4 percent. Without sufficient pasture or croplands, Spain depends heavily on grain imports.

Skyrocketing food prices, inflation at around 20 percent and going to bed hungry are prime concerns for Iranians as elections approach. At issue is president's handling of $280 billion economy. Two-week celebration of Iranian New Year begins on March 12; beef prices are up, but confection prices won't be raised (click 'See also').

Hillary Clinton says her administration would create a food safety net and give poor children 'greater access to healthy, fresh food.' She would launch effort to get junk food out of schools, and require schools to offer only food that meets or exceeds USDA standards. She would sign up more people for food stamps and expand benefits. The program would be paid for by toughening tax enforcement.

As Mississippi legislators consider a bill that bans obese customers from eating in restaurants, restaurateur and writer predicts he and other fat people will scout out the non-weighing restaurants (likely all-you-can-eat buffets), which would give those spots an unfair competitive advantage. But he does want a quota on green-bean casseroles for covered-dish suppers.

After rising by one-third in past year, food-price index is at its highest since it began in 1845. High prices offer an opportunity to break a cycle of crop subsidies without income loss. Doing so would help taxpayers, revive the stalled Doha round of world trade talks, boost the world economy, and directly help many of the world's poor.

Food pantries in Chicago and other cities across the country struggle to serve working poor during peak season as fuel and food costs rise. Federal assistance has diminished because there are fewer surplus commodities for USDA to buy, then distribute.

Citing moral need to feed the hungry, candidate John Edwards advocates implementing farm/food bill for its food stamp program and emergency food aid, expanding the food stamp program, funding school food programs and those for seniors, and luring supermarkets into neighborhoods without them.

Presidential candidates lured to food pantries, soup kitchens and other charitable organizations as country's biggest food holiday approaches. Some will gather at home; others gather their families on the campaign trail.

Reacting to shortages, Venezuelans line up to buy subsidized milk, chicken, eggs, sugar, cooking oil and baby formula, though store racks are full of imported luxury foods. Economists blame surge in demand, but politicos wonder whether shopkeepers are controlling supply to create discord among supporters of President Hugo Chavez.

Food aid, a key provision of the farm/food bill, saves lives in natural disasters and emergencies, but it also addresses chronic hunger and fosters long-term development overseas and needs half the funds reserved for those projects, say Catholic archbishop and bishop.

Inadequate food supply pushes some African women to engage in high-risk sex, a university study found. When struggling to feed their households, women in Botswana and Swaziland were more likely to sell sex, suggesting that promoting access to food may reduce AIDS.

Poverty will compromise adequate nutrition in case of flu pandemic in Kansas City, report says; many citizens can afford only three-day stockpile of food rather than recommended two-week supply, and if schools close, poor children would be deprived of their only hot meal of the day.

Inspired by environmental justice and groups that feed the homeless with surplus food, freegans in New York eschew capitalism and scavenge for groceries in the 50 million pounds of food garbage discarded annually; they favor D'Agostino's, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.

As farmers eagerly switch from food crops to those for biofuels, ecological and social factors led by high food prices, meat-rich diets, dropping water supplies, climate change and the growing population threaten vast numbers of people with food and water shortages.

Near the site of a murder that ripped a North Carolina town apart, the Anathoth Community Garden now grows, the gift of a black woman to a white church, and now the working poor find food at their door, and the town is finding a new peace.

Vietnamese-American watches his former country's leader and listens to the demonstrators chanting for democracy, but to him, the first problem is the hunger of the begging children, and the desperate circumstances that cause a parent to abandon a child.

CARE turns down $45 million in food aid from U.S., citing practice of selling tons of often heavily subsidized American farm products in African countries that compete with the crops of local farmers; other charities disagree.

Government's subsidies to the very rich need to be addressed, but Congress should follow lead of the House in tending to nutrition needs of very poor around the world via the Food for Education program in the farm/food bill.

Overfishing, poaching and pollution have depleted worldwide fish stocks to 10 percent of normal; for every pound of shrimp harvested, 10 pounds are discarded, along with turtles and dolphins, conservationists report.

Ethanol craze blamed for high prices across the supermarket, but other factors include surge in global food demand, high oil prices, uncooperative weather, and the slide of the dollar against other world currencies.

Bush administration's buy-local request for emergency food aid could help Kenyans, some of the world's poorest people, advocates say, but U.S. is mired in domestic farm subsidies and lobbies of shipping interests; aid for agricultural projects lags as well.